California's well-earned reputation as a leader in developing and deploying renewable energy just got a new boost. In recent years, the state has set many impressive goals for the future, such as a goal to get 50 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2030.

In truth, Russia has been building an altogether new kind of energy state, one with more global influence than even OPEC. A fundamental reason is Russian prominence in multiple energy domains, especially oil, gas, coal and nuclear power.<